Potato-digger.



PATENTE!) MAR. 6, 1906.

inventan attosnujvf UN TE] STATE PATENT OFFICE.

POTATO-DIGGER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

.Patented Maren 6, 1906.

Application Bled December 1Q. i905. Serial No. 292,482.

To all when@ it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. BEN- JAMIN, a citizen of the United States of America', and a resident of Jefferson, count of Ash tabula, State of Ohio, have invente certain new and useful Improvements in Potato- Diggers, of which the following is a full and clear specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of m improved machine; Figi 2, a plan thereof; ig. 3, a rear elevation t ereo Fig. 4, a detail side elevation showing more particularly the gearing; and Fig. 5, a detail view of one of the soil-pulverizing wheels, showing the opposite side from that seen in Fig. 1.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and efficient machine whereby the potatoes, together with the immediately surroundin soil, will be scooped up as the mav chine a vances and delivered to an agitating or sifting mechanism, which will loosen and separate the soil from the potatoes and deliver the potatoes at the rear of the machine on top of the ground, where they may be conveniently picked up by hand, as more full hereinafter set forth.

1lb the accomplishment of this object and such others as may hereinafter appear theY invention consists of the arts and combina tion of arts hereinafter ully described, and particu arl r pointed out in the appended claims,v reflerence being had to the accomanying drawings, forming a part of this speci cation, in which the same reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views. Y

Referrring to the drawings annexed by reference characters, A designates the axle, upon which is mounted a frame consisting of the beams af. The tongue a is attached to this frame and the axle, and upon the tongue of the frame is mounted a drivers seat.

The transporting means I are each provided on its inner side with a large spur-gear H, which meshes with a series of pinions e, f, and g, these pinions being rigidly secured, respectively, to the transverse shafts E, F, and G, these shafts being suitably journaled in frames depending from the axle and consisting of beams K and k. The shaft E is in front and is arranged about coincident with the axle, and the other shafts are arranged behind it in an ascending series. Each shaft is provided with a series of agitating or stirrer wheels D, provided with radial teeth or cams,

whose rear faces are convexed. The teeth of the adjacent series overlap, thereby forming a grate-like screen. Guard-'plates J are arranged at each side of the machine to hold the soil on the agitating-wheels and to prevent it interfering with the gearing. A scoop C is pivoted at c to the forward e ges of the guard-plates, and its rear edge is notched for the reception of the teeth of the front set of stirrer-wheels, so that the rear edge of the scoop is brought nearer to the front shaft. The front end of the sooo is raised and lowered by means of depen ing links pivotally connecting the side edges of the scoop with crank-arms b, carried by a rock-shaft B, which rock-shaft is rocked in its bearings to raise or lower the scoop by means of an upstanding lever b2, combined with which is a segment of the usual construction.

lt will be observed that when the machine is drawn along with the plow-scoop down the potato-bearing soil is scooped up and delivered to the agitating-wheels, and as these Wheels are caused to rotate simultaneously backwardly the soil will be broken up and moved baclrwardly. ln passing over the wheels the soil will be sufficiently broken up to fali down between them to the ground, and the separated otatoes are delivered off the rear series of w eels and dropped on the surface of the groiind. Each of the wheels D has a limited rotary movement on its shaft, this movement being limited by a ing d' striking against a projection or pin d, carried by the shaft, and this movement is made resilient by means of coil-springs d3. ,ach of these springs d3 has one end fastened to the shaft and its other end to the wheel, so as to normally turn the wheel rearwardly and hold it normally with its lug d against pin d2. With this spring arrangement it will be observed that should the convex surfaces of the teeth strike an unyielding obstacle, such as a large stone, the wheels will yield sufficiently to prevent breaking the teeth or the pinions or disturbing the shaft-bearings= It will be observed that a greater number of the agitating-shafts may be employed, if found desirable, and. also that it is possible to employ but one set of gearing at one side of the machine for operating the shafts.

lt wili also be observed that suitable ratchet devices may be employed on the shaft E or upon the main axle in order to permit the machine to back and turn without injuring the driving mechanism. ln the drawings, R

IOC

IIO

indicates the casing for this ratchet mechanism when it is carried by the shaft E.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame mounted on transporting-wheels, a gear carried by one of the wheels, a series of transverse shafts carrying resilient overlapping agitating-teeth, guard- Io plates, a plow-scoop in front of said series of agitating-teeth, and means for raising and lowering the plow-scoop.

2. In combination With a frame mounted on wheels, guard boards or plates, a series of 15 transverse shafts extending across the space between said guard-boards and each bein provided with a series of wheels having radia teeth Whose rear faces are convexed, means whereby these wheels have a limited rotary motion forwardly on their respective shafts, 2o gearing for rotating said shafts backwardly, and a vertically-adjustable scoop arran ed 1n front of said shafts, substantially as set orth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, z 5

this 4th da ofDecember, 1905.

REDERICK W. BENJAMIN. Witnesses:

ALVIN C. WHITE, HoMER ANDREWS. 

